Backpacking Joffre Lakes

Did you know that ParksBC allows 1,100 people to hike Joffre Lakes every day and that every day those 1,100 passes are sold out?

I think Joffre Lakes is one of the most talked about, hyped-up and insta-worthy places in BC.

My sister and I were pretty stoked to be able to book a camping spot there and see it for myself. And yes, it does live up to the hype. Yes, it is spectacular. Yes, you should go.

So whether you are planning a day trip or camping there overnight, here's some things to know about Joffre Lakes.

1. Get there early. We left the city at 5:30 am and made it to the parking lot just after 8:10am on a Friday morning. There were still lots of spots but I am sure on a weekend it fills up fast. After the main parking lot and overflow parking lot are full, there aren't any other places to park because you are not allowed to park on the highway so just set your alarm clock and get there early. It will be worth it. 

2. Hike prepared even if it means carrying bags that weight a third of your body weight. There is no cell signal so come with everything you need because you won't be able to call for help. When we were hiking, there was a group of 3 young women hiking in front of us. One of the girls started lagging behind the other two women and then I noticed she stepped to the side of the trail and then fall over head first. I walked closer and realized she was having an epileptic seizure. I ran up to her friends who were now way ahead with no idea what had happened and called for them to come over. They had no idea what to do and had no first aid kit. Luckily, there were another group of more experienced hikers and they helped roll her over into recovery position. We all stayed until she regained consciousness. It was so fortunate that she only cut her chin when she had her seizure, if she had fallen to the other side of the trail, it could have been fatal. 

3. There are three lakes. Each one is turquoise green blue. There is also a stunning waterfall in between the second and third lake. Take your time at each lake and enjoy the beauty.

4. The campsite is 1km past the third lake. If you have the time, it's worth it to keep going even if you don't plan on spending the night. The campsite is on the other side of the lake and it takes another 30-45 minutes to get there. It was raining on and off when we got to the campsite - we were lucky to find a quiet partially sheltered spot and set up the tent before it started raining again.

5. Heavy backpacks and slippery trails don't mix. I had a few falls during the hike but gladly all minor. On route to the campsite, I slipped on a slippery rock and the weight of my backpack made me lose my balance and I was like a turtle flipped on its shell. My legs were flailing in the air while I lay on my back. Good thing it was just landing on clothes, my sleeping bag and slightly squished our dinner. Unlike the well-maintained trail, the area past the campsite is very rocky and there are no marked trails past the campsite. The glaciers and glacier waterfalls are observable from the campsite and we trekked for several hours to get closer to the waterfalls. 

6. Explore the waterfalls past the campsite. The rocks and the incline make it a bit tricky but getting up close to the waterfall is pretty amazing. You can feel the rush of the water and also see the third lake from a stellar viewpoint.

7. Enjoy dinner and breakfast with a view.  Undeniably the most scenic spot to enjoy a meal.

8. Take lots of picture. I took over 100 photos and it is clear why - the bright green waters, the glacier background, the mountains, it really does live up to the hype.